How to Play Kurodoko

Shade cells so numbered cells can "see" exactly that many white cells in their row and column. Shaded cells cannot touch, and all white cells stay connected.

Try it now — Easy 7x7 →

The Rules

Available in 3 sizes (5x5, 7x7, 10x10) and 3 difficulty levels (easy, normal, hard).

See It in Action

Shade cells so each number can see exactly that many white cells horizontally and vertically

How to Play

  1. A numbered cell with value "1" must have all four adjacent cells black (it can only see itself)
  2. Calculate vision: if a number has already seen N cells via prior placements, stop adding whites in its direction
  3. Use the non-adjacency rule: after shading a cell, its four neighbours cannot also be shaded
  4. Ensure all white cells remain connected after each shading decision

Pro Tips

Large numbers in small grids mean the numbered cell's row and column must be mostly unshaded

Numbered cells near the grid edge have fewer cells to see — their value must be small

If two numbered cells share a row or column, black cells between them can satisfy both simultaneously

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kurodoko?

Kurodoko means "Where is Black?" Numbers in white cells tell you how many white cells that cell can see horizontally and vertically (including itself), up to the next black cell. Black cells cannot touch each other, and all white cells must be connected.

Choose Your Challenge

Start with easy to learn the rules, then progress to harder difficulties.

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